President Wilson Agrees To Go To War

President Wilson spoke of being powerless against a tide of opinion in favor of war that might sweep the nation as the result of "some damned little German" submarine captain.  In 1917 he deferred to public passions and led the United States to war, but he had to have a good reason, so he explained that the United States would not choose "the path of submission" and the world, he said, must be "made safe for democracy."